Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

March 24, 2012

Thumbs up to Robert Beatty of Ripley and Z&M Ag and Turf of Falconer and Clymer for making a celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of John Deere. What started as small operation making innovative steel plows in 1837 has, as you well know, grown to be a worldwide leader in agriculture machinery manufacturing.

In heavily agricultural regions such as ours, John Deere is more than that, though. All sorts of machinery painted with the company colors - green with yellow trim - has long been an iconic presence in our rural landscape. Why, we know of some little boys who learned to identify John Deere tractors, combines and bailers before they could barely walk.

And speaking of history, thumbs up to the Jamestown Branch of the American Association of University Women for inviting everyone to a Women's History Month talk by Traci Langworthy this morning. She will speak on ''Making Woman's History: Chautauqua County's Political Equality Clubs in the Suffrage Movement." It is at 11 a.m. in the Carnahan Theater at Jamestown Community College.

Ms. Langworthy holds a bachelor's degree in history from Oberlin College and a dual master's degree in history and certificate in museum studies from the University of Delaware. She is also an alumna of the PJ newsroom.

Among other things, you will hear about Chautauqua County being home to some of the earliest of the political equality clubs in the nation. These were groups formed in the late 1800s with the encouragement of national women's suffrage associations to build grassroots support for the cause.

And, finally, thumbs up to our own Sen. Charles E. Schumer for interceding with the U.S. Air Force to ensure that Sgt. Rex, an aging military working dog, will be reunited in retirement with his partner, retired Marine Corps Cpl. Megan Leavey.

During their two deployments together to Iraq, Leavey and Sgt. Rex, a German shepherd, scoured the war's most dangerous regions, uncovering deadly explosives, IEDs, weapons caches and suicide bombers. Both were severely injured in 2006 when insurgents detonated an IED at the side of the road they were patrolling.

The pair spent a year together recovering from their injuries and then she retired from the Marine Corps while Rex continued working with other members of the military.

But he is 10 years old now and, with his health declining, Rex has been retired.

"We salute the Air Force and the Marines for doing the right thing and allowing Rex to be with Corporal Leavey. One canine, one human, both heroes. They should be united shortly and we're glad it's happening," said Schumer.

"I can think of no better ending to a story that inspired a nation than to see Sgt. Rex come home to his best friend. While millions of dog lovers across the country have a deep bond with their 'best friend', the bond forged between Corporal Leavey and Sgt. Rex is one that few of us will ever know. It's only appropriate and right that the two of them enjoy their retirement from the service together,'' he said.